Pissing Contest

[ruthless]

Angel has always peed on the carpet whenever she didn't feel like going outside. We never caught her in the act, so didn't discipline her. When Chopper arrived he decided to mark the area, and so the pissing contest began. We never catch either of them so don't really know who's responsible and who to scold. Even if I was to scold them, is that the right thing to do?

I know the answer is to let them out more often and not give them access to the carpeted areas unsupervised. This works most of the time, but we drop the ball sometimes. We're about to move house, and I'd like to take the opportunity to knock this on the head. Any suggestions?

[Mushaka]

move to house with florrboards..lol..thats wat i did!!!

[Sarah L]

Angel has always peed on the carpet whenever she didn't feel like going outside. We never caught her in the act, so didn't discipline her. When Chopper arrived he decided to mark the area, and so the pissing contest began. We never catch either of them so don't really know who's responsible and who to scold. Even if I was to scold them, is that the right thing to do?

I know the answer is to let them out more often and not give them access to the carpeted areas unsupervised. This works most of the time, but we drop the ball sometimes. We're about to move house, and I'd like to take the opportunity to knock this on the head. Any suggestions?

Hi ruthless, I see from the pics you have 3 dogs, but it is only two that have the problem is this right?

Have you ever used crates for your dogs?

If you have not used crates then I would recommend learning to use crates for your new house. Many people on the forum, including myself have used them and all will be glad to give you advise on the correct crate training method for older dogs. This will give you peace of mind when you drop the ball and are unable to supervise the dogs inside the house.

The day you move to your new house, then I know it will be hectic for you but they must be toileted well when they come from the vehicle before going into the house, only let them have a brief sniff around and put them out to toilet again the excitement of a new house will make them pee. If you choose not to use crates then you will have to put them out to toilet every hour for the first day or so. Or keep them under supervision and let them out more often. This won't help you when you are asleep though. You can also make them permanent out side dogs but if this is not what you want then crate training is a very good alternative. It does not mean however that dogs be left in crates all the time though. The crates will give you a few hours peace when you can't supervise them and then you let them out to toilet after being in the crate.

Hope this was of help to you ;)

[ruthless]

Yeah, Ivan's fine. Once he lifted his leg against the back of the sofa, but I caught him before anything came out!

Angel and Chopper sleep in crates in our bedroom. I think that's enough time for them to be cooped up in there. It's bad enough that they're alone all day without being crated when we're at home too. I think that'd be unfair. By unsupervised I didn't mean we were out and they we alone in the house. I'd never do that. We'd come home to utter destruction! I just mean if we're in the kitchen they'll go to the hall or the living room and have a pee. It's as easy as keeping the kitchen door closed, but sometimes if I'm in one room and OH is in another we both think the other is watching the dogs. It's all down to us being more vigilant I guess.

Is there anything we can spray on the carpet to deter them in the first place? I think as soon as it happens once it'll just keep happening. Also, if we know which one did it and we catch them a few minutes after. What do we do so they learn it's unacceptable behaviour?

Also, is there a way to train them to toilet only in a certain spot in the garden and not kick up so much grass afterwards to cover it?

[MonElite]

They are not kicking the grass to cover it, they are kicking the grass with their smell to make it larger and to show how big and great they are. And whos territory it really is.

[ruthless]

Hmm, Chopper doesn't kick, Ivan does a little bit, Angel does HEAPS... talk about small dog complex ;)

[Miranda]

You need to go back to basics, from what you say it sounds as if the female has never been properly house trained. Treat her as if she were an 8 week old puppy, put her out immediately after eating, sleeping or playing and watch her ALL the time while she's inside. If you see her starting to urinate, grab her, say "No' in a very disapproving tone of voice and put her straight outside, do this if it's raining, freezing cold or whatever. Make sure that she knows she's displeased you. When she urinates outside say she's a 'good girl' in a happy voice and make a big deal of it. If you can't supervise her inside, crate her, every mistake she makes and gets away with simply reinforces the behaviour. There are no short cuts, vigilance and persistence are the key.

It sounds as if the male is simply marking because she is urinating inside, once the female is house trained you will probably find that he will stop doing it.

[Sarah L]

Angel and Chopper sleep in crates in our bedroom. I think that's enough time for them to be cooped up in there. It's bad enough that they're alone all day without being crated when we're at home too. I think that'd be unfair. By unsupervised I didn't mean we were out and they we alone in the house. I'd never do that. We'd come home to utter destruction! I just mean if we're in the kitchen they'll go to the hall or the living room and have a pee. It's as easy as keeping the kitchen door closed, but sometimes if I'm in one room and OH is in another we both think the other is watching the dogs. It's all down to us being more vigilant I guess.

Put it this way ruthless, would you rather your dogs wee in your house because you and your other half think differently about what the other is doing. You know this will always be the case between you. Even if your dogs sleep in crates all night it would be better to bring the crates out of the bedroom while you are home and put them in the rooms you do use. It will not matter to the dog if it spends another 10 or mins in the crate while they cannot be supervised because you are doing a household chore and hubby's watching tv. You can still see the dogs and they can still see you, you can still talk to them if that's what you normally do. Put it this way it's not like their getting interaction from you at these times anyway. Or they would not wander down the hall for a wee in the first place. Make the crate a fun place to be at these times, give them a toy or a bone to keep them occupied while in there. I think ruthless it is your human guilt about using crates more so than it is the dogs response to being in one.

Is there anything we can spray on the carpet to deter them in the first place? I think as soon as it happens once it'll just keep happening. Also, if we know which one did it and we catch them a few minutes after. What do we do so they learn it's unacceptable behaviour?

I am sure there is a spray deterrent you can get, just can't think of the names of any. Maybe other people on here will now. However I do know 9 out of 10 times they are useless and a waste of money. Catching your dog a few minutes later won't work. Some people say when they have caught the dog in the act then correction works. This may work for some dogs it depends on the dog. Most times I have found it only makes the dog sneakier about where they wee and you don't find it so easily. Also if this happens it usually takes someone who does not live in your house to come in one day and say "what is that smell".

Also, is there a way to train them to toilet only in a certain spot in the garden and not kick up so much grass afterwards to cover it?

There is a way but it takes a lot of time and patience and training to do this. Unless anyone on here knows a quick way to train a dog to wee in one spot of the garden. I would stick to solving the weeing inside the house first.